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Ex-Olympic sprinter gets NZ up to speed
INDORE: As cricket becomes more competitive and teams fight tooth and nail for every run and wicket, there is maximum emphasis on preparation. Some follow technology,
INDORE: As cricket becomes more competitive and teams fight tooth and nail for every run and wicket, there is maximum emphasis on preparation. Some follow technology, others old-school training. For New Zealand, they have an Olympian on board to help them make the cut.
Chris Donaldson, 41, is the strength and conditioning coach of the Kiwi side and has competed in 100m and 200m at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games. He holds the 200m national record back home.
It has been a long time since then and he has turned his attention on making other athletes as fit as possible. “I had the good fortune of having the best coaches around me. It is with that understanding that I chose to do what I do now,” he says.
“A good coach is very important for an athlete. He does not just ask his ward to run, but teaches him how to and in the most optimum way without attracting injuries. It is what I now teach the cricketers… training for sprint and cricket isn’t completely different. Cricket can get fast at times, where bowlers and fielders have to burst into runs, even the batsmen between the wickets,” Donaldson says.
While growing up in Christchurch, he played a lot of sport but chose sprints as he was a natural at it. “I had the good fortune of participating in the Olympics. It is till date the proudest achievement of my life. I made (it) to the second round in both events. It wasn’t the best performance, but I am still proud that I made it to the grand stage,” he says. “I still hold the national record in the 200m. It is something that I hold dear.”
He was at the centre of the action during the 2015 World Cup when New Zealand made it to the final. However, his biggest worry is not the stress of big tournaments but the constant travel. “In India, the need is hydration and the right kind of exercise. Core training is essential. I see quite a few boys in the Indian side who have become very athletic. The likes of Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja do stand out in the field,” he adds.
